STABLE KNEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 48, 19 May 1927, Page 6

STABLE KNEW

WORKING A COUP UNKNOWN JOCKEY PUT UP PUNTERS MISSED EASY MONEY Trainer W. Kelso’s ruse to get better odds about Bootlegger for the final races at Warwick Farm was not a success. An unknown apprentice was aboard. But the best cry from a bookmaker was even money, and he was almost killed in the rush. The rest of the ring demanded odds on Bootlegger, so if the big guns wanted to win they had , to lay the odds. Punters with big liabilities spoke critically of the Kelso move. They! didn’t know apprentice J. Gibson, and the laying of odds being risky under any circumstances, refused to take the risk with an unknown jockey. LOOKING ROUND So they sought other candidates upon which to get square,, and mostly they chose Four Socks, whom they backed down to short odds after he had opened at fives. Bootlegger remained at odds on almost throughout the wagering, and that was the quote at fiagfall. Although unknown to racegoers, jockey Gibson has always been regarded by his master as a capable and promising apprentice. So it was no surprise to those who realised this to see Bootlegger regarded as a good thing for the race, because of his good third the previous week at Randwick, entrusted to the youth. And in the race the jockey proved quite efficient. DIDN’T HURRY HIM He let Bootlegger get balanced before he set out after the pacemakers, Four Socks and Coello. When he headed Four Socks in the straight, after a vigorous set-to with Davidson, young Gibson brought his mount home, in tradesmanlike fashion, and, over the last half-furlong, there was no doubting the issue, and he won by two lengths. Bootlegger has been a consistent place-getter, and a good winner for the Kelso stable. Five races have fallen to him in the current season, besides three seconds and four thirds. His win made 23 for the Kelso stable this season.